In today's show, I have Jane Bennett joining me all the way from Australia! Jane originally trained in in Social Work and Clinical Hypnotherapy and is now working as a researcher, counselor, and Natural Fertility Management Educator. Jane’s main area of focus has been educating women and girls about Natural Fertility Management methods (i.e. Fertility Awareness). Jane designed and created a program called The Natural Fertility Management Conception Kit and the Natural Fertility Management Contraception Kit offering in-depth knowledge and teachings of the fertility awareness method for contraception and optimal conception that is easy to learn and use!
During her time working with Natural Fertility Management Jane became aware of the need for a more positive and healthy attitude toward menstruation for the physical, mental and emotional well-being of women and girls as well as for the sake of our individual and collective fertility. She is the author of A Blessing Not a Curse: A Mother-Daughter Guide to the Transition from Child to Woman as well as The Pill: Are You Sure It's For You? She also created and founded Celebration Day for Girls - a program designed for young women to learn about menstruation, fertility, to celebrate reaching that important milestone of menarche, and to help girls develop a positive experience and association with menstruation.
In today's episode, Jane and I talk about the important role that having a regular menstrual cycle plays throughout a woman's life. We question the idea that menstruation has no purpose and we also question the current trend towards suppressing menstruation altogether through the use of long-acting or continuous use hormonal contraceptives. We discuss the importance of celebrating rites of passage and why we should be celebrating menarche and encouraging girls to develop a positive association with menstruation and a better understanding of their fertility from a young age.
Topics discussed in today's episode
Connect with Jane!
You can connect with Jane on her website, and on the Celebration day for Girls website
Resources mentioned
Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by Sirc of (The Nock)
Today's guest is Will Sacks, co-founder of the Kindara charting app! If you haven’t heard of Kindara, it is one of the most user-friendly fertility awareness charting apps available. I started charting my cycles before the age of charting apps and I have found Kindara to be one of the best fertility awareness friendly charting apps out there. I love that the “predictor setting” is optional and that the user-friendly interface allows me to track all of my fertility signs easily. I also love that using the Kindara app links you to a community of women where you can share your charts and support each other.
Will study mechanical engineering and economics at McGill University, and when he learned about fertility awareness charting he discovered the magic of the feminine, and came to appreciate and understand women on a much deeper level. He appreciates how this level of understanding is lacking in our culture and has been working to improve the ability of women to understand and track their fertility by creating the Kindara Charting app.
In today's episode, we talk about the different ways that fertility awareness charting can help women to discover and appreciate their own fertility and the amazing ways that our bodies work. We also talk about the impact that fertility awareness charting can have on your relationship. Fertility awareness charting offers couples the opportunity to share the responsibility when it comes to contraception, and that is something that is often lacking in many of the commonly used contraceptive methods such as hormonal contraceptives or condoms. We talk about how using fertility awareness charting can increase openness and closeness between partners as well as allow both partners the opportunity to develop not only an increased understanding but also a deep appreciation and reverence for women and their fertility cycles.
Topics discussed in today's episode
Connect with Will!
You can connect with Will on the Kindara website, his website, and on Facebook and Twitter!
Resources mentioned
Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by Sirc of (The Nock)
Amy Medling is a Certified PCOS Health Coach who has helped thousands of women overcome their PCOS symptoms and restore their fertility naturally through the programs she has developed. After receiving her own diagnosis of PCOS she embarked on her own journey to health by doing her own research and trying many different approaches. She was able to heal herself and regain her fertility naturally and that inspired her to do the same for other women also struggling with PCOS symptoms.
In today's show, Amy and I talk about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in detail. We talk about what it is, what symptoms are required for an "official diagnosis", and what are some of the most common but less known symptoms of PCOS. We discuss why many women may have PCOS symptoms but don't necessarily make the connection to a PCOS diagnosis. Amy discusses in detail what tests you should be requesting from your doctor if you think you may have PCOS, and we talk about how fertility awareness cycle charting can help you identify it early. Amy also talks about what steps you can take to heal your PCOS naturally. If you've ever had questions about PCOS you'll learn a lot from this episode!
Topics discussed in today's episode
Connect with Amy!
You can connect with Amy on her website, and on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter!
Resources mentioned
Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by Sirc of (The Nock)
Holly Grigg-Spall is the author of Sweetening the Pill or How we got hooked on hormonal birth control. If you haven’t had a chance to read this book and you’ve ever had any questions about the pill you need to get your hands on a copy ASAP! Every woman who is on the pill has ever been on the pill, or is considering going on the pill should read this book! Holly uncovers what could be considered the biggest myth about the pill – which is that it has no impact on our emotions and on our overall health. Holly talks about her own experience with the pill and how it took her years to finally realize that the pill was at the root of her emotional symptoms. These are perhaps some of the least talked about impacts of the birth control pill, and don’t expect your doctor to tell you about it!
In today’s show, we will be talking all about the pill and the impacts that it can have on the women who take it. I am a fan of informed consent and after listening to this episode you’ll have a much greater understanding of the potential downsides of taking the pill, and what you can do instead.
Topics discussed in today's episode
Connect with Holly!
You can connect with Holly on her website, and on Facebook and Twitter!
Resources mentioned
Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by Sirc of (The Nock)
Dr. Kerry Hampton is a registered nurse, a midwife, and an active researcher in fertility-awareness and lifestyle education. The aim of Kerry’s research is to reduce the incidence of infertility by promoting fertility literacy with the fertility awareness method. Her findings have shown that most women seeking fertility assistance cannot accurately identify the fertile days of their menstrual cycle. And of course, by educating women about their fertile signs through fertility awareness women can be taught to be able to identify their fertile days and increase their overall knowledge of how their fertility works and understand their menstrual cycles better.
Kerry is also a leader in professional development in her field having developed programs that teach Natural Fertility Education to professionals so they can offer support to their clients in understanding their menstrual cycles. She is the author of the Comprehensive Course in Natural Fertility Education© and co-author the Advanced Practice in Natural Fertility Education©.
In today's show, Kerry and I talk about why it's important for women to have the opportunity to learn how to accurately identify their fertile days. In her research, Kerry found that only 13% of women who had been referred to fertility clinics for IVF treatments after at least 12 months of trying to conceive could accurately identify their fertile window. In her clinical practice, she has helped hundreds if not thousands of women to conceive naturally after providing basic education about how to observe and identify cervical mucus patterns, and how to pinpoint the fertile window during the menstrual cycle. We talk about how important it is for couples who are having difficulty conceiving to learn how to pinpoint the 3 days prior to ovulation, and how a simple shift in when sex is timed has helped numerous couples to conceive after several months or even years of unsuccessful attempts. We also talk about the important role that cervical mucus plays in fertility and why it is absolutely essential for women to be able to conceive naturally.
Topics discussed in today's episode
Connect with Kerry!
You can connect with Kerry on her website!
Resources mentioned
Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by Sirc of (The Nock)